The majority of home care recipients are seniors with an average age of 69. Three-in-five care recipients (59%) have long-term physical conditions and a quarter (26%) have memory problems. Many care recipients (37%) have more than one ongoing health problem.
For seniors with challenging physical and cognitive impairments who require help with activities of daily living–such as bathing, dressing, toileting, and eating–home care is a game changer. But home care also benefits those who are still in good health, by providing companionship, help in and around the home, and other types of assistance. Further, families as well as seniors benefit from the services provided by home care companies, which will be described in more detail throughout this report. Currently, 13.9 million family caregivers (32%) report using paid help.
“You help people age safely at home with the care they need. You are the unsung heroes and heroines of our nation’s health care system.”
By: Tommy Thompson, former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (2015 HCAOA Annual Conference)
Services Provided by Home Care Companies
Companionship: from socializing to providing transportation to activities
Wellness and safety: including meal preparation, diet and nutrition, personal safety monitoring
Help in and around the home: including grocery shopping, running errands, laundry, light housekeeping
Activities of daily living: assistance with bathing, dressing, toileting, personal hygiene, mobility
Care coordination: accompanying seniors to doctor visits, serving as an extra set of “eyes and ears” for families
Management of chronic conditions: medication reminders, daily health monitoring and regular reporting of any changes
Transitional care: from hospital discharge to home
From: Caring for America’s Seniors: (The Value of Home Care)
